Method and apparatus for volatilizing sulphur



July 25, 1933. G. RUPPRECHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOLATILIZING SULPHUR Filed June l1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l t v l0 u July 25, 1933. G. RQPPRECHT Y 1,919,307

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOLATILIZING SULPHUR Filed June 1l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 for spraying e. g.

Patented July 25, 111133V UNITED STATES Vfr GEORG nnrrnncnr, or HAMBURG, `e'r'ERivrANY METHOD Annl arrenarusron voLA'rrnrzincfsULPHURl 1 I Y'Appucation filed* June: 11, 1931, semina.

The present invention relates to ya method and apparatus for volatilizing sulphur.

The use of sulphurvvapours oifersconsiderable advantages in combating the spread 5 of disease on vplant life due to fungi or par? asites as sulphur from sulphur vapourV Separates out in a very inelysubdivided state and acts accordingly very much more energetically. The condensed sulphur particles ad- 10 here to the plants or trees so firmly `that they n hee been found that iedieauing eulphur only a comparatively small quantity of concentrated sulphur vapours insuflicient for 25 treatment of large surfaces can be obtained,

from a blower. This disadvantage could be avoided by forcing the sulphur vapour from the blower by means of inert gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogenor the like' or steam and there would be thus obtained a large generation of sulphur vapour. i,

It vwas however found that this hitherto known method o f vaporizing sulphurcould not be carried out Ion a Vlarge scale.` The other methods used in the distillation'of liquids, for example aqueous liquids or the like, for increasing the evaporationlby in-V creasing the evaporative surface and the like could not be kused yfor the production 'of'sul-f 40S phur in vapour form on account of the known physical'properties of sulphurv of ignition at 220 and of boiling at 450 C.y The formation of sulphur dioxide consequentfor example on the ignition lof the sulphur vapour had for the purposes mentioned however under all circumstances to be avoided. Sulphur dioxide has avery serious deleterious effect on plants as is known, apart from the` objection on the ground ofthe regulations- 0 applying to a dischargeV of Ysmoke gases con- 543,669,v and Germany March 1.31, .1931'.

. taining sulphur -dioxidelinto'thel atmosphere, l'

a For allnthese reasonsit-'wasnot possible for a long time ftoutilizetheknown method and apparatus Ion` a large scale in spiteof ff v the great need'on the partrof agriculturis'ts fora devicewhich would permit the sulphur treatment offlarge surfaces of land. i Y It has now beenV found thattheprod'uction of sulphur vapour for combating fungi or microbes or the nebulation in accordance" '69 `v with fthe invention; canbel carried out on a large scale by leading molten sulphurl through chamber closed from the outer air over superheated surfaces vso that they sulphur canvaporize and introducing at the 9 5; same time inertgasesfor example carbone dioxide, nitrogen `or the like, or steam to force out the sulphur vapours formed. Y

The inventionjis concerned valso withapparatus for performancef'of this method ,70. I

which. consists of a melting 'orsup'erheating vessel for the sulphur to which is connected an evaporating chamber having a large evapyorating surface which has for example inclined evaporating surfaces over which the 5 sulphur runs, the evaporatlng surfaces being arranged in stepelike formation, so as to form within the steps 'collectors for thesulphur flowing downward, intowhich collectors ex# tend tubes forv the .introductionof theinert lU gases. The-sulphur, canalso` be brought direct into the-evaporating vessel 1 having. a largexsurfacel It has moreover beenfound that` the sulphur vapour which lisvery light can be rendered hea-vierior weighted bymix- 85 ing smoke gases with thesulphur vapour vin lieu of pure inert gases or supplying smoke gases separately to the sulphur vapours;

moreover inert gasmixtures for example an a1r-carbon-Vdioxidev mixture may be used. 9-0

While pure sulphur vapour is v`easily driven awaybywind, it is possiblefinr accordance with the invention to treat large,"surfacesl without difficulty by sulphur vapour-smoke` mixtures. f l 9*5' It has moreover been ascertained that the `method, and apparatus forproducing'the su`lphur vapour in` accordance with-the inveiition can besimplified by using the heating medium for the ,evaporation ofthe sulphur Vgases obtained from the heating mediumfor the evaporation of the sulphur can be led through the boiling Ysulphur but if these con bustion gases contain smoke they serve also Yof sulphur.

for weighting the sul hur va* ours. 1

D D. 1 Two embodiments of tne invention are illustrated by way of example in the accomf panying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention having large evaporating surface.. Fig. 2 illustrates. a second embodiment showing an apparatus in which the heating medium at the same time .provides the inert gases intended to drive olf the sulphur vapours. VFig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. :2. Referring to Fig'. l, c' indicates the meltthermometer branches Vand charging openings and with an outlet branch fitted with valve 7L. Stick sulphur or broken sulphur is melted in the vessel, the molten 'sulphur .running through the outlet branch fitted with the valve h into an evaporatng'chamber .76, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, over inclined heated surfaces which are interrupted after the manner of steps by pocket-like collectors Z. The installationis heated by theburnersQ and 3 or from another suitable source' of heat.

Into the pockets yor collectors Z-eirtend tubes ve with their nozzle shapedends through which inert gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen Vor the like or steam regulatedv by valves can. be passed through the liquid sulphur. These gases serve to drive olf thesulphur evaporated which escapes `at min yellow clouds. Y n y Accor-ding to the drawings steam generated in a boiler a is led through a pipe fitted with a valve o intoV superheater c and preferably heated' to 'abovedOo C.,A theboiling point The superheated steam is led thence rthrough the steam main vel into the l steam pipes e fitted with the nozzles f.

The evaporating chamber 7c is completelyT shut olf from the outer atmospheres() that 'no oxygen can enter and consequently no sulphur-dioxide can be formed 'due to ignition of the vaporized sulphur. The means for heating the sulphur superheating chamber k is so constructed that the sulphur heated over a large surface and driven olf becomes increasingly hotter and shortly before j reaching the outlet pipe m passes into the hottest zone. y

. The invention 'is not limited to the arrangement illust-rated in the drawings.

The sulphur superheating chamber k can be heated not only as shown in the drawings Aby separate petroleum, petrol, spirit, oil and like'burners but the furnace chambery surrounding the sulphur superheating ychamber c may be' heated with charcoal, 'peat or' the Vpoor in oxygen that lheated sulphur.

ing vessel which is suitably provided with like. In both cases as much air may be forced through the closed furnace chamber as is necessary for maintaining the combustion of the fuel employed. W aste gases thereby produced are almost free from oxygen due to combustion and in any case are Yso they cannot ignite superrlhese combustion gases can therefore be blown through the nozzles 7c in lieu ofsuperheatedsteam. v

The vaporization of the liquid sulphur can also be effect-ed in other suitable apparatus, for example in towers provided with evaporating surfaces, drums, rotating or moving evaporative surfaces and the like. lt is essential for the invention that the outer air should becompletelyexcluded, that the supervheating should be effected' by suitable large surfaces and the sulphur vapoursy should be y which a sulphur vessel r can be inserted.. The sulphur vessel 1 has on its lateral wall an ,Y opening through which a tube s extendsto about the bottom of the vessel r. The sulphur vesselv' can be closed on its upper side by a' cap Lf which leads the sulphur vapours Yinto the atmosphere.

In operation the chamber n is fired witha-f suitable fuel for example, coal, coke, peat, wood charcoal or thelike. nite-d and allowed to burn with the branch'es p1, p2, p3 open. Then'the lower branch-p1 is closed andY air blown in throughthe pipe g. This flow of air may be produced by' a blower,

fan, compressonbellows, or the like. The combustion products escape through the out lets p2, p3 into the atmosphere.

TWhen the fuel is sufliciently hot sulphur i vessel r charged with sulphur is inserted in the central opening of the heating chamber n. andthe sulphur melted by the 'heat of` the fuel. As soon as the heatis sufficiently strong and the sulphur in the vessel r suliicientl-y hot' the two other outlets p2, 793 are closed. The

combustion products which are practically free from oxygenmust nowfflow from the chamber n through the tube s into the sulphur.

vessel r through the molten evaporating sulphur through the tube and carry the sulphur vapour produced through the outlet pipe t' to the atmosphere into which the vapours escape in the form of a dense cloud..

If smoke genera-ting Vmeans for example l- The fuell is ,ig-p l par rags saturated vvithoil, decayed Wood, chemical smokefproducing materials er the like are Y added to the heating medium, the smoke gases produced Withthe inert gas have a-vveighting effect on the sulphur vapours and ensurethat the latter Will be not so easily driven off in the open air,

` In lieu of solid fuels liquid fuels or heating gases may be employed. TheV combustion air gives up its oxygen to the fuel in the combustion Zone so that gas practically free from oxygenfloivs through the vessel r and Willnot form sulphur dioxide. l

For special purposes there may be used'as the inert conveying gas the compressed gas produced by fireworks, the smoke produced being used at the same time as a Weighing material.

The invention is not limited tao the construction described and illustrated. The apparatus may have any other form and arrangement. The new apparatus in accordance With the invention has been found very satisfactory in combating vegetable fungi and parasites etc. VThey provide a convenient, light and simple construction and can be easily operated by an unskilled person-a matter of great importance for agriculture, horticulture and so on. The new apparatus requires little attention and the operating costs are very low. The nebulating apparatus is suitable for spraying large surfaces for all purposes, for example for the protection of plants against night frosts and the like.

Having noW particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A method of nebulizing sulphur, comprising leading molten sulphur, heated to approximately its boiling point, through a heating chamber from which atmospheric air is excluded, passing said molten sulphur While in said heater chamber over heated evaporating surfaces of large surface area, superheating the sulphur on said surfaces, and simultaneously introducing inert gases into the said molten sulphur in suiicient quantity to drive ofi' the sulphur vapors in a product comprising highly diluted sulphur vapors.

2. A method of nebulizing sulphur, comprising melting sulphur, leading the molten sulphur, heated at a temperature no less than" its boiling point, over the heated evaporating surfaces of large surface area of a vaporizing chamber, superheating the sulphur on said surfaces, excluding the atmospheric air during said process, and introducing gases substantially inert to the sulphur into the said molten sulphur for driving oif the sulphur vapors thus formed.

3. A method of nebulizing sulphur, comprising melting sulphur, leading the molten sulphur, heated at a temperature no less than its boiling point, over the heated evaporatingA surfaces of largefsurfacearea of a vaporizing chamber, excluding the atmospheric air during said process, superheating'gases substantially inert to the sulphur to a vtemperaphur,`and introducing the superheated gases into the molten sulphur'to drive` off the sulphur vapors. p v 4. A 'method of nebulizing sulphurin an evaporator having heated evaporating surf faces of large surfacearea disposed in step like manner and provided with pocket-like collectors, comprising meltingthe sulphur, hea-ting the sulphur on the-said evaporating surface to a temperature greater than its boiling point, collecting the molten sulphur in the said collectors, and forcing gases substantially inert to the sulphur into the pock-V ets containing the sulphur for driving ofi' the sulphur vapors. i l

5. A method of nebulizing sulphur in an evaporator having heated evaporating' surv 79 i ture no less than the boiling point ofthe sulfaces of large surface area disposed in stepf likemanner and provided with pocket-like collectors, comprising meltingr the sulphur, heating the sulphur on the said evaporating surface to a tempera-ture greater than vits boiling point, collecting `themolten sulphur in the said collectors, superheating gases substantially inert to the sulphur to a tempera! ture greater than the melting point of the sulphur, and forcing the superheated gases into the collectors containing the molten sulphur, for driving oifthe sulphur'vapors.

6. Apparatus for nebulizing sulphur, comprising a hermetically sealed chamber from which the air is excluded, a melting vessel .to Which the said chamber isconnected, means defining` inclined evaporating surfaces in the said vessel, the said surfaces being disposed in step like manner, and having pocketlike j collectors for excess sulphur, pipes leadingr into the said pockets for the introduction ofV gases substantially inert to the Vsulphur and an outlet for the sulphur vapor, the superheated sulphur moving into increasing heated zones and leaving the apparatus at the hottest zone.

7. Apparatus for nebuliizingsulphur,com@ "5 prising a combustion container, for super heatlngthe sulphur to a temperature above its boiling point, a vessel inserted therein for containing the sulphurto be heated, and a tube leading from the upper Wall of said vessel, Where it communicates With said container, to the bottom, through which tube the vproducts of combustion of the heating medium are passed from the container, through and into the superheated mass of sulphur, so l that the said products of combustion drive off the sulphur vapors thus formed. Y

8. A method of nebulizing sulphur, comprising passing the products of combustion of a fuel about the exterior of a container of' sulphur, for liquefying said sulphur', and thereafter passing the products of combus-v tion interiorly of said container, downwardly through and into the liquid sulphur, for driving loff the sulphur vapors thus formed.

9. A vmethod of nebulizing sulphur, coni.- prising producing products of combustion by the burning of fuel, passing the products of combustion about the exterior of a container of sulphur, for liquefying the sulphur therein, and for heating the sulphur to a temperature above its boiling point, and thereafter passing the products of combustion interiorly of said container, through the said sulphur, to drive off the sulphur vapors thus formed.

10. A method of nebuli'zing sulphur, coxnprising burning fuel in a furnace, maintaining` ized sulphur. i

GEORG RUPPRECHT.

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